Teen warned to get off grog or risk prison

A TEENAGER has been warned to get off the grog and get his act together or face time behind bars.

Jayden James Ries appeared before Toowoomba Magistrates Court to plead guilty to possessing a small amount of marijuana, a pipe for smoking it, a stoker (used to unclog a cone piece), and to a drink-driving offence.

Magistrate Catherine Pirie noted by Ries’s record sheet that he appeared to have a “significant” alcohol problem.

The 18-year-old had blown a breath/alcohol reading of 0.182 in 2013, then he had been caught riding a bicycle while under the influence of liquor and yesterday he pleaded guilty to driving with a breath/alcohol reading of 0.116 when, on a provisional driver’s licence, he was subject to a zero alcohol limit.

“There is a very good reason why novice or amateur drivers must have a zero alcohol limit,” Ms Pirie berated the teenager.

Ms Pirie said at first blush she thought Ries a prime candidate for a probation order but he had such a poor response to the probation order he was already on that that penalty was out of the question.

“It’s a true shame you didn’t show better compliance with the order,” she told him.

“If only a little bit better I would have considered probation or an intensive correction order.”

Taking into account his youth and pleas of guilty, Ms Pirie sentenced Ries to three months in jail but suspended the term immediately with the three months to hang over his head for the next two years, fined him $400 and disqualified him from holding or obtaining a driver’s licence for 12 months.